Back To Mine with Josh Caffe

Mocky – Show Me That Your Mine

I came across this track on a Dirty Diamonds compilation in 2003. It originally came out on Mocky’s album ‘In Mesopotamia’. There’s a lot of different sound elements to the album but I particularly love this track. A dark, trippy and slightly haunting take on a love song to someone. To me it still manages to sound romantic! Definitely check out the video too, it’s pretty abstract and lofi – works great with the track.

 

94 East – Love, Love, Love

94 East was one of the first bands prince sang with. They were a Minneapolis based band that formed in 1975 by Prince’s cousin Pepe Willie. I’m in a band called Nostalgia of Mothership and 70’s collectives like this together with Parliament/Funkadelic and Sly and The Family Stone have inspired us greatly. The messages through their music were so revolutionary and encouraged positivity and love as well as highlighting a lot issues they were fighting for such racism, sexuality and gender.

 

Sylvia Striplin – Can’t Turn Me Away

A classic bit of 80’s Funk/soul. This came out on Sylvia’s album debut ‘Give Me Your Love’, which when I discovered I played to DEATH! Absolutely love her vocals. The beat on this track has been sampled many times since. Check out Notorious B.I.G/Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s take on it with ‘Get Money’.

 

Ata Kak – Obaa Sima

Ata Kak released this on Awesome Tapes From Africa, a label I have much respect for in helping underground African reach a wider audience and enabling them to receive the critical acclaim they deserve. I love the lo-fi/home studio recording of this, the beat kinda sounds like early Prince. It sounds quite nostalgic and brings back memories of music that was played in my house when I was a kid in Uganda. My dad was a DJ and played at a club called Club82 in Kampala and would always play his new finds from artists in Congo, Sudan and Ghana when we had parties at home – which was pretty much every weekend!

 

Roisin Murphy – Leaving The City

I was fan of Moloko but I’ve definitely connected more with Roisin’s solo music. Her first album Ruby Blue is something I still play regularly and find very inspiring. Matthew Herbert & Roisin Murphy? What a pairing of musical minds! I love the various little sound samples on this track, synched up so seamlessly. Throughout the recording process of Ruby Blue, Herbert encouraged Rosin to bring everyday objects to the studio so he could make them an integral part of the music. I’d LOVE to work with him.

 

DJ Bone – Here to Stay (Won’t Fade Away)

I’ve spent a bit of time in Detroit recently through playing gigs and totally fallen in love with the city. This track brings back memories of the time I spent there and the family I’ve become part of. DJ Bone released this on his ‘The Detroit EP Part 1’ and as you guessed is an homage to his hometown.

 

Brian Harris – Chemistry

I listened to a lot of Brian Harris’ music while working on my album Black Magik Dawn (released next year). His productions with Steve Poindexter definitely inspired a lot of the down tempo tracks I’ve made. I l connect musically with the old skool Chicago sound, something that features in my dj sets and mix series regularly. I played in Chicago while the Move Your Body: The Evolution of House Music was on and it got me gagging for the studio.

 

Cherelle ft. Alexander O’Neal – Saturday Love

An absolute classic for me. Alexander O’Neal was played on repeat in our house partly because my sisters and aunts had a major crush on him. The song did way better here than in the main US charts which was surprising given how big they were in the States. I loved seeing them reunite to perform it at the BET Awards in 2011 and looking forward to seeing Mr O’Neal play in December.

 

Woo – Awaawaa

If you’re into trippy psychedelic funk then definitely check out this album from the Ive’s Brothers. They combine electronic and acoustic sounds brilliantly. There’s also some great visual interpretations of several of the songs that came out alongside this release.

 

James Mason – Nightgruv

It has been nice to see Mason slowly get more recognition for his music in recent years through reissues. This release and ‘Rhythm Life’ are bodies of work that should’ve been bigger than they were when they came out. There’s an 11 minute version of ‘I Want Your Love’ on this which I’m obsessed with.